Republican lawmakers are starting to break with the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, as the party scrambles to respond to growing public anger after two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents.
But even as some Republicans in Washington speak out against the fatal shootings, they've avoided directly criticising President Donald Trump or his broader immigration agenda.
The emerging messaging on Minneapolis points to the party's main dilemma heading into the midterm elections: whether and how to distance itself from the biggest controversies of Trump's second term while running on his overall record on immigration and other issues - a record that's popular on the right, and that most Republicans helped push through Congress.
So far, Republicans have focused criticism on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE - the agency at the forefront of the Minneapolis operation - and other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security taking part.
Last year, the Republican-controlled Congress approved roughly $45 billion for border security and additional funding for interior enforcement to help the administration carry out Trump's plan to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the country. However, recent polling shows a majority of Americans believe ICE's tactics have gone too far. As public outcry grows, certain Republican senators have begun to call for oversight hearings and accountability measures.
The tension continues to escalate among party members as the need for a unified stance grows amid significant public backlash against the recent incidents in Minneapolis.
The political future surrounding immigration policy remains uncertain, especially with midterm elections approaching. The response from Republican leaders and their ability to navigate this delicate situation will shape the broader immigration dialogue in the upcoming months.
